Bowling alley pin resetting machine



P 1959 B. SCHERZlNGE R 2,902,281

- BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESETTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet1 /N VE N TOR ATTORNEYS Sept. 1, 1959 Filed 001;. 4, 1956 B. SCHERZINGERBOWLING ALLEY P'IN RESETTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I P 1959 B.SCHERZINGER 2,902,281

BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESETTING MACHINE- Filed Oct. 4, 1956 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR A TTORNE Y6 Sept. 1, 1959 B. SCHERZINGER 2,902,281

BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESETTING MACHINE I Filed Oct. 4, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet4 IN VE N TOR in said prior application.

United States Patent BOWLING ALLEY PrN RESETTING momma Brun Scherz nge aga mA e t rCa a a, .a i n h ;Mechanical Pin 'Resetter Co., Ltd.,Calgary, Alberta, Canada This invention relates to improvements inmachines for resetting pins in a bowling alley in between frames,

and sweeping .the alley clear of-fallen pins and balls .between theballs of a frame.

The present application is .a continuation-in-part of United'Statespatent application Serial No. 528,711 filed August 16, 1955, whichlatter contains a description and illustration of a complete machinefor'this purpose. The present invention is directed towards certainimprovements in parts of a machine of the general type described Inparticular, the present invention is concerned with apparatus for use ina pin setting unit, that is to say section (A) of the machine describedin such prior application.

More specifically, the present invention is concerned with improvementsin pin holding mechanisms-for mountingon a vertically movable carriagearranged over the pin supporting end of a bowling alley. As has alreadybeen explained in said prior application, such pin holding mechanismsperform the dual functions of (a) Setting a fresh arrayofpins on thealley, at the termination of a frame, and

game, it is necessary that this pin should remain in such displacedoroff-spot position for the remainder of the frame, and it is thusnecessary that the picking up and resetting mechanism should be capableof performing these functions in respect of pins in .oif-spot as well ason-spot positions.

A.further object of the present invention is to provide .an improvedpinholding mechanism having this latter facility.

One form of pin holding mechanism constructed in accordance vwith thepresent invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings.

The complexity of the mechanism has led to some of the detailsshown in aview concerned, for example, with the operation of a particular part,being omitted from other views in which the same part may appear, but

which are furnished'primarily to illustrate the operation of otherparts. It follows that exact correspondence does not always existbetween the various figures, but it is believed that such sacrifice hasbeen made to the benefit of aplear appreciation of the importantfeatures of operation of the mechanism as a whole.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of the pin holding 2 mechanism inposition for performing a pin picking up operation;

Figure'2 is a view of the pin holding mechanism'of Figure 1 seen fromthe right hand side of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar-to Figure 1, demonstrating the manner ofoperation of vthe mechanism in picking up an on-spot pin;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1, demonstrating the manner ofoperation of the mechanism in picking up an off-spot pin;

Figure 5 is a further-front elevation of the pin holding mechanism,demonstrating its function of pin setting;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the parts in a differentposition;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the mechanism in the position seen in Figure5; and

Figure 8 is a plan view of the mechanism'in the position seen in Figure6.

The pinholding mechanism that forms the subject of the presentdescription (there will be a number of such mechanisms in a pinsettingmachine, one for each pin to be set, i.e. fivein the case of thefive-pin game and ten in the case of the ten-pin game) consistsof afunnel shaped pocket or cup 1 open at both ,ends and into which a pinwill be deposited by suitable recharging mechanism while the verticallymovable carriage that supports the pin holding mechanisms is in an upperposition (the prior application will provideample illustration of thisoperation). The pin P will be held upright in the cup 1 by means of fourfingers-2 which engage the neck of the pin (Figures 5 and 7). Theseclamping fingers 2 are each pivotally mounted at one end by a pin 32 toa fixed plate 33 secured to an upper edge of the cup 1 (see especiallyFigures 7 and 8). The center of each finger 2 is connected by a rod 34to the upper end of the adjacent one of a pairof pin holding levers 3,each of which levers is pivotally supported at4 (see Figure 1, 5 or 6)about a pair of swinging brackets 5 that are pivotally mounted to theupper rim-of the cup 1 at-6. At their lower ends the pin holding levers3 terminate in pads 3a adapted to engage a lower peripheral surface ofthe pin and provide the main support therefor. When the pin is of thefive-pin type illustrated in the drawings, the pads 3a will normallyengage beneath the peripheral rubber band surrounding the lower portionof the pin (se particularly Figure 5). When adapted for the tenpin typeof pin the pads 3a will engage the lower part of the belly of the pin.

The brackets 5 which support the pin holding levers 3 are normally heldinwardly by links 7 which connect the lower end of one of each pair ofbrackets '5 tothe centre of a further link 8 pivotally mounted on thecup 1 about a shaft 9. The two shafts 9 comprise drive shafts thatextend beyond the pin holding mechanism (shown only in Figure 2), forsuitable operation at the correct time by external power means (notshown). These shafts 9 which transmit the forces for opening and closingthe pin holding levers 3, correspond to the pivoted arm 78 and drivingrod 79 illustrated in Figure 8 of the said-prior application, so thatthe function of this part of the pin holding mechanism differs from thatof the pin holding mechanism described in the earlier application, onlyin that no spring is used and the drive means which was previouslycentrally situated has now been moved to each side and been split intothe two separate drive shafts 9 which are interconnected beyond the pinholding mechanism for simultaneous operation.

Passing now to the other part of the pin holdingmechanism, namely thepick-up mechanism, it will be noted from Figures 1 and 2 thata pair ofpivotal supports 11 provided on each side of the cup 1 serve to mount apair of press plates 12 by means of connecting brackets 13. Each pressplate 12 has an upwardly extending arm 12a that bears against the lowerrim of the cup 1 at points 14 with a firm pressure. The plates 12 whichin this position serve to close the lower opening of the cup 1 arenormally held closed by means of the links '7 and 8 already described,since the upper end of each arm 12a is pivotally connected to the lowerend of a link 8 by means of an intermediate link 15. Resilient cushions16 are attached to the undersides of the press plates 12.

Another drive shaft 17 extends into the pin holding mechanism from anexternal power source (see Figures 1 and 2). This shaft 17 is journalledin suitable bearings arranged adjacent the upper rim of the cup 1 and ismechanically linked to a similar parallel shaft I18 on the other side ofthe cup 1 by means of connecting rods 19 and pairs of intermediate links2% and 200. These parts, best seen in Figure l, are duplicated at therear of the cup 1, as demonstrated by Figure 2, and henceforth thedescription will concentrate on those at the front of the cup forsimplicity. Further links 21 connect the links 20 and 20a each to thecentral point of a bent actuating lever 22. In the case of each link206:, the link 21 connects the bent lever 22 with the point ofconnection between the link 20a and the connecting rod w, whereas in thecase of each link 24), such link is extended downwardly beyond its shaftconnection into engagement with the link 21.

Fixed pivotal points 23 determine the position of the lower end of thelower arm of each bent lever 22 in relation to the cup 1. The ends ofthe other arms of the bent lever 22 are individually connected throughlinks 25 to respective ends of upper arms of a further pair of levers24, which perform the function of pick-up levers. The lower ends ofthese pick-up levers 24- are joined together in pairs by means ofclamping bars 28 that extend from front to rear on each side of the pinholding mechanism. These clamping bars 23 are circular in cross-sectionand are rods covered by a resilient material adapted yieldably butfirmly to grip a pin between them. An intermediate point of each of thepickup levers 24 is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 29 on an end ofone of a pair of differential beams 26 provided at the front and rearrespectively of the mechanism, each differential beam 26 bein. itselfpivotally mounted on the cup 1 at a centre point 27 so as to be able totilt in the fashion of the beam of a scale. A brake disc 39 is securedto each differential beam 26, brake shoes 31 being provided on the bentlevers 22 for engagement with the periphery of each disc 34 to lock thedifferential beam against movement while the clamping bars 28 areengaging a pin.

Figure 1 shows the position of the parts as the pin holding mechanism islowered towards a pin standing on a bowling alley for the purpose ofraising such pin while a sweeping operation takes place. The mechanismis lowered until the cushions 16 come to bear firmly against the head ofthe pin, thus clamping such pin against horizontal displacement.Simultaneously with this clamping action the shaft 17 is turned a smallamount and the shaft 18 turns with it but in the opposite direction byreason of the connecting rods 19. This motion is transmitted through thelinks 21 to the bent levers 22 and thus through the links 25 to thepick-up levers 24 which thus swing downwardly and inwardly to bring theclamping bars 28 into engagement with the neck of the pin. Figure 3shows the positions the parts then occupy, assuming the pin to becentrally positioned in its onspot position.

The timing mechanism of the machine will then cause the carriage onwhich the pin holding mechanisms are supported to be elevated while thesweeping operation takes place. The carriage will then again descend andthe operation just carried out will be reversed so that the clampingbars 28 will again swing outwardly and upwardly into their rest positionand the pin holding mechanism will again be elevated to free the pin forplay.

Figure 4 illustrates the operation of the mechanism when it is calledupon to raise and re-position an of?- spot pin. It is assumed that thedisplacement of the pin from its on-spot position is transverse to thedirection of extent of the clamping bars 28 (the worst condition). Thelength of the clamping bars 28 caters for displacement in the otherdirection. Initially the same operation as already described takesplace, except that one of the clamping bars 28 will come to bear againstthe pin before the other clamping bar 28, and this will prevent furtherinward movement of such first clamping bar 28. In turn this will checkrotation of the pick-up levers 24 carrying such clamping bar 28 and thedownward movement being imparted to the links 25 of such pick-up levers24 will only be allowed to continue at the expense of a tilting of thedifferential beams 26 which will tilt downwardly at the ends carryingthe pick-up levers 24 that support the clamping bar 28 first to engagethe pin. Consequently the other ends of the beams 26 swing upwardly andprovide additional eflective rotation to the lower ends of the otherpick-up levers 24, and the two clamping bars 28 finally come to bearagainst the pin in the manner illustrated in Figure 4.

In this position of the parts, as in the previous operation when the pinwas in the on-spot position, the links 21 will each form a togglemechanism with a link 20 or 20a, such toggle mechanism travellingslightly over centre to lock the parts in this position until themotions are reversed by turning of the shaft 17 in the oppositedirection. At the same time'the brake shoes 31 bear against the brakediscs 30 thus precluding the possibility of the beams 26 changingposition between the time when the pin is lifted from the alley and whenit is reset thereon.

A valuable feature of the present construction is the fact that theadjustment motion consequent upon encountering an off-spot pin takesplace principally about a single pivot point, namely the centre point 27of the beam 26. This minimizes the friction involved in such movement.

The setting function of the pin holding mechanism is illustrated inFigures 5 to 8. When it is required to set an array of pins on thealley, the carriage supporting the pin holding mechanisms (each loadedwith a pin-Figures 5 and 7) is lowered to bring these mechanisms almostto the alley fioor. The two shafts h are then rotated in opposite sensesto an extent sufficient to force the pivot points 4 of the pin holdinglevers 3 outwardly through the agency of the links 7 and 8, until theparts occupy the positions shown in Figures 6 and 8. The outwardswinging motion of the two links 8 acts through the links 15 to pullupwardly the projecting arms 12a of the press plates 12, thus rotatingsuch press plates 12 about their pivot points 11 into positionswithdrawn from the lower opening of the cup 1. The outward movement ofthe pin holding levers 3 serves to withdraw the pad 3a from the lowerpart of the pin. At the same time the outward movement of the upper endsof the levers 3 pulls on the rods 34 to retract the fingers 2 from theneck of the pin. The pin is thus completely released and slides throughthe cup onto the alley.

It will be appreciated that the fingers 2 cooperate to form asubstantially complete annulus expansible and contractible between anouter position (Figure 8) where they define a passageway at least asgreat as the maximum diameter of a pin (for receiving a fresh pin fromthe recharging mechanism) and an inner position in which they closelyembrace the neck of the pin (Figure 7), for holding the same erect.Although in the outer position there are gaps between the adjacent endsof the fingers 2 {Figure 8), these gaps are sufficiently small that,even if a pin entering the cup 1 does come to lie obliquely with itshead inclined towards a gap between the fingers, these fingers will ofnecessity engage the neck of the pin in their inward movement towardsthe inner position, ensun'ng that the pin head is moved across to thecentral position it occupies in Figure 7.

A pin in readiness for setting in the manner described has also beenshown in Figure 3 of the drawings to emphasize that the pick-up andresetting operation may be performed-and usually will be performed-withthe cup loaded in readiness for a setting operation. The two pins do notinterfere with each other, and the two lever systems operateindependently.

I claim:

1. For a bowling alley pin resetting machine, a pin holding mechanismadapted to receive a pin falling from recharging apparatus, saidmechanism comprising a framework, a pair of levers each pivoted at itsupper end to said framework, means to hold the same together, a secondpair of levers each pivotally mounted on a respective one of the firstpair of levers, the lower ends of said second levers having inwardlyprojecting portions adapted to form supporting seats for the pin and theupper ends of said second levers having inwardly projecting fingersadapted to embrace the upper part of the pin and maintain the sameerect, and means for moving apart the lower ends of the first leverswhereby to move outwardly the pivotal points of the second levers andtherewith the seats for the pin formed thereon to allow such pin to movedownwardly onto the surface of the alley.

2. For a bowling alley pin resetting machine, a pin holding mechanismadapted to receive a pin falling from recharging apparatus, saidmechanism comprising a generally tubular framework, laterally movablesupports mounted on said framework, means to hold said supportstogether, a pair of levers each pivotally mounted on a respective one ofsaid supports, and means for moving apart said supports whereby to moveoutwardly the pivotal points of said levers, the lower ends of saidlevers having inwardly projecting portions adapted to form seats for thepin and the upper ends of said levers controlling inwardly projectingfingers adapted to embrace an upper part of the pin and maintain thesame erect, such fingers being movable on pivotal oscillation of saidlevers from an outer position in which the fingers define a passagewayof diameter at least as great as the maximum diameter of the pin to aninner position in which they define a passageway equal to the diameterof the pin at an upper part thereof, the fingers being of such lengthsand disposi tions that in no position do they afford a gap between oneanother through which the upper part of a pin lying obliquely in saidtubular framework could pass.

3. For a bowling alley pin resetting machine, a pin holding mechanismadapted to receive a pin falling from recharging apparatus, saidmechanism comprising a framework, laterally movable supports mounted onsaid framework, means to hold said supports together, a pair of leverseach pivotally mounted on a respective one of said supports and meansfor urging apart said supports whereby to move outwardly the pivotalpoints of the levers, the lower ends of said levers having inwardlyprojecting portions adapted to form seats for the pin and the upper endsof said levers each controlling a pair of fingers pivotally mountedabout substantially vertical axes to be movable between an outerposition in which they form a substantially complete annuluscontractible between an outer position defining a passageway at least asgreat as the maximum diameter of the pin, and an inner position in whichthey closely embrace an upper part of the pin.

4. A pin holding mechanism for a bowling alley pin resetting machineadapted to receive a pin falling from recharging apparatus, saidmechanism comprising a framework, a pair of levers each pivoted at itsupper end to said framework, means to urge said levers together, asecond pair of levers each pivotally mounted on a respective one of saidfirst pair of levers, the lower ends of said second levers havinginwardly projecting portions adapted to form seats for the pin and theuppper ends of said second levers having inwardly projecting fingersadapted to embrace the upper part of the pin and maintain the sameerect, a pair of plates pivotally mounted on said framework and movablebetween an operable position in which said plates form an uninterruptedhorizontal undersurface to said mechanism and a withdrawn position inwhich said plates are moved outwardly and away from one another to thesides of said framework, and means for urging apart said first levers tomove outwardly the pivotal points of the second levers and forsimultaneously moving said plates to their withdrawn position whereby toallow a pin to move downwardly onto the surface of the alley.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,833,814 Backus Nov. 24, 1931 2,231,473 Kaufman Feb. 11, 1941 2,621,961Whipple et a1. Dec. 16, 1952 2,676,016 Whipple et a1. Apr. 20, 19542,702,707 Frye Feb. 22, 1955 2,705,145 Fluke et a1. Mar. 29, 19552,775,454 Larkin Dec. 25, 1956

